Split PDF by Bookmarks
Local Processing (Offline Capable)Split PDF into separate chapters using document outline bookmarks or headings. Automatically determines page ranges and exports as individual PDFs or a ZIP archive.
How this tool works (no sign-up needed)
- Upload your file above. Each tool shows whether it runs Local (in your browser) or Cloud (encrypted servers).
- Adjust options, then click the Run / Convert / Process button.
- Wait for progress, then download the result. Use Next tools to continue.
If buttons are not visible, enable JavaScript — the interactive workspace loads in your browser.
Free · 100% LocalSplit PDF into separate chapter files using document outline bookmarks or headings
Supports .pdf,application/pdf
Local — your file is processed in your browser and not uploaded to us. No account needed.
What is it?Split PDF by Bookmarks is a PDFLean page organization tool: Split PDF into separate chapters using document outline bookmarks or headings.
TL;DR: Split PDF into separate chapters using document outline bookmarks or headings. Processing runs entirely in your browser — your file is never uploaded; supports embedded bookmarks and smart heading detection.
This tool splits a PDF into chapters using its embedded outline bookmarks or detected chapter headings. Processing runs locally in your browser — no upload, no account — and closing the tab clears the data. The output is one PDF per chapter: several chapters are packaged into a ZIP, while a single chapter exports directly as a PDF. Key limitation: the file needs outline bookmarks or recognizable chapter headings; a document with neither falls back to manual page-range splitting.
About this tool
Designed for the moment you need a document changed quickly and privately. Split PDF into separate chapters using document outline bookmarks or headings. Automatically determines page ranges and exports as individual PDFs or a ZIP archive. Processing runs locally in your browser's memory — the document is never transmitted, and closing the tab clears it completely. The workflow is deliberately short: load the file, choose the options on the page, run the operation, and save the result. Every choice is applied before the file is written, so re-running with different settings takes seconds. Practical limits apply (see the on-page limits); it pairs well with the related tools linked beside this page when one step is not the whole job. Key facts — Processing: runs entirely in your browser, client-side; Access: free with no account required; File limits: see the on-page limits; Privacy: the file never leaves the device.
How to use
Select or drop your PDF document into the workspace
The tool extracts outline bookmarks and lists all chapters with page ranges
Select the chapters you want to extract
Click "Split Selected Chapters" to download separate PDFs or a complete ZIP archive
FAQ
Can I split a PDF that has no native bookmarks?
Yes! When native bookmarks are missing, our engine scans for headings like 'Chapter 1' or 'Section' to generate automatic chapter split points.
How are the split PDF files named?
Files are named based on chapter title and order (e.g. 01_Chapter_1_Introduction.pdf) for easy navigation and archiving.
Can I select bookmark outline levels (e.g. only Level-1 chapters)?
The tool lists all detected chapters in a flat list. You can use "Select All" and "Deselect All" or manually check individual chapters to export (hierarchical depth filtering is not currently supported).
Do split chapter PDFs preserve their original internal bookmarks and links?
Page contents, images, and annotations are fully preserved and copied, but split sub-files will not reconstruct the original document's outline bookmark tree.
How are split files downloaded? Can they be bundled as a ZIP?
You can download individual chapters or click one-click package download to save all split PDFs together in a neat ZIP archive.